Gas milage for a pickup
Printed From: Tippmann Paintball
Category: News And Views
Forum Name: Thoughts and Opinions
Forum Description: Got something you need to say?
URL: http://www.tippmannsports.com/forum/wwf77a/forum_posts.asp?TID=138824
Printed Date: 01 October 2026 at 6:49pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Gas milage for a pickup
Posted By: Justice
Subject: Gas milage for a pickup
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 12:14pm
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Does anyone know if you get better gas milage with the tail gate off or on. I work an hour away from home and most of it is highway. I just took off my camper top to reduce some weight and took off the tailgate hoping that will help. Thanks for any help. ------------- 
-JUSTICE http://www.myspace.com/outkastpaintball - Outkast Myspace |
Replies:
Posted By: reifidom
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 12:22pm
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In theory it should reduce some drag and let you run more efficiently.
Your driving speed and other conditions, like tire pressure, surface, and a/c, will all affect it much more I think. ------------- 
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Posted By: Cedric
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 12:23pm
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Paintpalooza. Hahahaha.
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Posted By: Zesty
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 12:24pm
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I'm no engineer, but my experience is YES, taking off the tailgate will improve your MPG.
My friend used to have a Mazda b2200 pickup when we were in highschool. When we would go on trips to other towns, we weould always put the tailgate down, and my buddy would swear it would help the aerodynamics by not having that big old "air catch" of a bed. I drove his truck both ways on the highway, and you could definitely tell there was less wind resistence. It's just more aerodynamically sound not to have the tailgate on there. It should give you better aerodynamics and MPG, even if it's only a little something-something. ------------- "People who see the future earlier than others are always feared and misunderstood." - Jose Canseco |
Posted By: Justice
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 12:25pm
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Right. Should I call mythbusters? -------------
-JUSTICE http://www.myspace.com/outkastpaintball - Outkast Myspace |
reifidom wrote:Posted By: Zesty
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 12:26pm
| ^Na, just do it and see how it feels....I'll bet there will be significantly less resistence. |
Posted By: Hairball!!!
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 12:26pm
| I've heard people swear by putting the tailgate down, but I've also heard contradicting aerodynamic studies. I don't know. |
Posted By: Pate
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 12:28pm
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There
was a thread on PBN about this. They said there is no difference
because there is an air pocket formed in the bed, so the air just flows
over the bed and tailgate with no resistance.
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It feels good to be a gangster |
Posted By: reifidom
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 12:30pm
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Just try it on two full tanks of gas and see how many miles the odometer runs before you have to fill. That'll tell with better accuracy. -------------
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Posted By: Justice
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 12:32pm
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Ok, but there are allot of variables especially on highway travel. But heck this isnt for national security or anything. Thanks for the help everyone. -------------
-JUSTICE http://www.myspace.com/outkastpaintball - Outkast Myspace |
Posted By: Skillet42565
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 12:34pm
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Yea, 2 full tanks of gas is really chepa now-a-days and all ------------- 
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Posted By: Pate
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 12:35pm
The problem with that, is at one time, he might do more highway driving, and the other he could be doing more stop and go.
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It feels good to be a gangster |
Posted By: Zesty
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 12:39pm
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I don't agree with the air-pocket theory...if that was true, then why would stuff in your bed fly out?
If the air-pocket was true, then whatever small cans and trash that is in the bed would be in the air pocket, and wouldn't get sucked out. But if you roll with your tailgate up and trash in your bed, it's gonna fly out. So my stoner theory goes against the air-pocket theory. |
Posted By: agentwhale007.
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 12:41pm
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If you need a tailgate just get one of those mesh-style ones. ------------- Hey, nice marmot!  |
Posted By: Zesty
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 12:43pm
| But he doesn't need tailgate, he just wants to know if there is a difference in MPG with it on and off. |
Posted By: redneckdeerhunt
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 1:35pm
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there is when it is off also if u jack up the truck it gets better gas miliage ------------- i love to hunt and lite things on fire 98 custom smartparts progressive double trigger lapco bishot pen spring mod 20 oz rocket cock dye invision mask |
Posted By: Apu
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 1:48pm
------------- I need a new Sig... |
Posted By: Linus
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 1:54pm
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I have an Astro cover on my bed, so I have no idea.
I geta round 35 city, 40 highway. ------------- 
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Posted By: Liquid3
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 2:01pm
| I've been towing for many years. Multiple studies have been done by the gov., vehicle manufactures, and trailer manufactures. Not one of them says taking your gate off does anything. I don't consider any studies done by air gate or the net Companies as very valid because they are trying to sell you something. The reason is there is too much turbulence coming off the roof. The only things that help are a full cap and/or a wing on the roof. Theoretically some of the turbulance is allowed easier escape with no tailgate but the math proved it was so slight that you would never come close to seeing that as improved gas mileage. I will dig up some of the articles if you really need them. |
Posted By: reifidom
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 2:49pm
He's going to be using it anyway. And about the different driving, that's fine. He's just looking for a yay/nay kind of an answer here. -------------
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Posted By: RoboCop
Date Posted: 27 July 2005 at 3:21pm
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When I was driving down the highway, there was a truck with the tailgate up. There was trash in the bed of the truck wich would literally fly up into the air but kept inside the boundaries of the bed. This meaning that suction kept the trash in. I have never seen a truck with trash in it with the tailgate down, but I think that better mileage would be the result if the tailgate is down. |
Posted By: Zesty
Date Posted: 28 July 2005 at 8:26pm
------------- "People who see the future earlier than others are always feared and misunderstood." - Jose Canseco |
Posted By: Zesty
Date Posted: 28 July 2005 at 8:27pm
Robocop, now that you mention it, I've seen the same thing....my theory was wrong 
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Posted By: DBibeau855
Date Posted: 28 July 2005 at 8:33pm
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Its a pick up. Its not going to have really terrific MPG to begin with. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/DBibeau855/?chartstyle=myspacecolors"> 
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Posted By: WGP guy
Date Posted: 28 July 2005 at 8:46pm
| Sure, it should. My dive instructor was telling me when they used to go on trips and drive, they would stay a few feet behind an 18 wheeler and they got great gas mileage. |
Posted By: DBibeau855
Date Posted: 28 July 2005 at 8:49pm
Not much for safety?  ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/DBibeau855/?chartstyle=myspacecolors">
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Posted By: WGP guy
Date Posted: 28 July 2005 at 9:09pm
No, he wasn't. When he was young, he and his friends would wait at the top of a hill for a bus and draft a foot away from it. He said they got 35 easily. |
Posted By: DBibeau855
Date Posted: 28 July 2005 at 9:12pm
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What on bikes? Good greife. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/DBibeau855/?chartstyle=myspacecolors">
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Posted By: borntopaint
Date Posted: 28 July 2005 at 10:18pm
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It probably would relieve a little bit of drag and weight. I
don't think it would be worth it though. Just leave the gate down
it will look much better.
------------- 
"I normally refrain from conversation during gestation." |
Posted By: CHAOSS
Date Posted: 28 July 2005 at 10:54pm
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I have been driving a truck for 5 years now and I definatley notice a
difference when it is down on the highway. You can feel the difference
in drag. I actually get mad at myself when I forget to put it down,
because it feels like your in a constant battle to keep the truck at
75mph, but not when its down. Also anyone that owns a truck knows the amount of trash people throw in your bed in parking lots or at parties, well if the gate is up you will constantly see it flipping around in the bed, put the gate down and get on the highway and like magic it all will be gone  (I do not promote littering) ------------- 
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Posted By: BearClaw
Date Posted: 31 July 2005 at 10:17pm
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I have had my share of trucks for 6 years. Some with caps, tonnoe covers, and oped beds. Now i dont give a POOP what anyone says in ANY study the most drag felt on a pickup is NOT from the tail gate but rather the sudden drop off behinde the cab of the truck. The air flow LITTERLLY swirls BACK against the rear window of the truck and then continues on back with LITTLE to NO interferance with the tail gate. This is proven from driving with SNOW in the bed of the truck. the snow will PLASTER the rear window of the truck while the tail gate remains DRY. ------------- AGD 68 Automag Azodin KPII Sheridan PGP2K Tippmann Crossover XVR Tippmann ProCarbine Tippmann SL68-II Tippmann TiPX |
Posted By: Project Irene
Date Posted: 31 July 2005 at 11:07pm
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^I THINK I would believe you WITHOUT the TEXT in capital's every OTHER word.^ The gas mileage thing is true, you don't have to take it off, just let it down. My dodge ram gets about 12 mpg with it up, down it gets close to 15. |
Posted By: Roll Tide
Date Posted: 01 August 2005 at 1:52am
Common sense says with it down you get better gas mileage. It can't hurt so why not. ------------- <Removed sig for violation of Clause 4 of the New Sig Rules> 
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Posted By: BearClaw
Date Posted: 01 August 2005 at 9:55am
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Hey beleive what ya will but i know for a FACT that tail gate up or down or off dont do a damn thing. As i said ealier. when ya drive with snow in the bed see were the snow blows and hits when driving down the highway. None is on the tailgate and alot is on the rear window. Not only do i drive a truck (and have been for some time). But im also a mehcanic. ------------- AGD 68 Automag Azodin KPII Sheridan PGP2K Tippmann Crossover XVR Tippmann ProCarbine Tippmann SL68-II Tippmann TiPX |
Posted By: Jim Paint
Date Posted: 01 August 2005 at 11:05am
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The only thing I know, is that while driving with the back sliding window open, air is sucked in.
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saepe fidelis |
Posted By: Linus
Date Posted: 01 August 2005 at 11:06am
This is why I have an astro cover on my bed  -------------
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Posted By: PlentifulBalls
Date Posted: 01 August 2005 at 2:17pm
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If you want good gas mileage on a pickup, get Diesel.
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sporx wrote: well...ya i prolly will be a virgin till i'm at least 30. |
Posted By: DBibeau855
Date Posted: 01 August 2005 at 2:25pm
Well i dont need a cover on my truck so nya nya. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/DBibeau855/?chartstyle=myspacecolors">
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Posted By: General Chives
Date Posted: 01 August 2005 at 7:58pm
------------- It's not the X's and O's, it's the Bills and the Joes |
Posted By: xteam
Date Posted: 01 August 2005 at 8:12pm
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wait till the mythbusters get to it -------------  |
Posted By: Impulse.
Date Posted: 02 August 2005 at 3:05am
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That would be the best way. It's just like drafting in nascar or even bicycle racing. ------------- [IMG]http://www.word-detective.com/berry.gif"> |
Posted By: Justice
Date Posted: 02 August 2005 at 8:23am
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Well I tried with the gate down and gate up. Seems I am getting a tad more with the gate up. -------------
-JUSTICE http://www.myspace.com/outkastpaintball - Outkast Myspace |
Posted By: Linus
Date Posted: 02 August 2005 at 8:29am
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